WEBVTT NOW URGING THE PUBLIC TO AVOIDENTERING THE YUBA RIVER AND ATALL COSTS.CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATER AND WARMING, TEMPERATURES AT SOUTH YUBARIVER STATE PARK PROVING TO BEBEAUTIFULLY INVITING, ANDLIFE-THREATENING.>> EILEEN:-- SHE'S A POWERFUL THING.AND SHE DOESN'T CARE OR THINKABOUT US.VICKI: NEVADA COUNTY FIRE'SSWIFT WATER RESCUE SPOTTING AYOUNG MAN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDATTEMPTING TO BOOGIE BOARD THEYUBA RIVER.>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLETO SWIM OUT OF IT, YOU'RE NOTGOING TO BE ABLE TO SWIM ACROSSIT.IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN IT, YOU'REGOING DOWN RIVER.VICKI: THE 23-YEAR-OLD GETTINGLOST IN THE RAPIDS.>> YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AND THATLOOKS VERY AGGRESSIVE.I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THETHRILL SEEKERS.>> THERE IS NO ESCAPE ROUTE.YOU'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT INTHAT RAPID, THEN TO THE NEXTONE.YOU ARE GOING TO GET TOSSEDAROUND AS YOU TRY TO GETYOURSELF TURNED AROUND.YOU'RE GETTING TOSSED, YOU'REGETTING ROLLED.VICKI: CAPTAIN KEVIN MENETTELLING US THE UNCONTROLLED YUBARIVER IS AROUND FOUR TIMESSTRONGER THAN SUMMERS PAST. ,-- PAST.>> I WOULDN'T LET MY KIDS GET INTHERE.NO, I WOULDN'T GET IN THE WATER.%IT'S CRAZY.I'M SURE IF YOU SWAM OUT TOO FARIT WOULD JUST TAKE YOU AWAY.VICKI: HISTORIC SNOWMELTCREATING AN UNFORGIVING CURRENTAND UNDERTOW SLAMMING INTORELENTLESS DEBRIS.>> THERE ARE SMALLER ROCKS UNDERTHAT WATER, AND ESSENTIALLY YOUARE GOING TO GET BEAT UP LIKE AHAMMER.VICKI: URGING THOSE TAKING ONTHE YUBA RIVER, YOU WILL LIKELYFAIL.>> THIS RIVER TAKES LIVES.IT HAS DONE IN THE PAST, AND

A 23-year-old man is missing after he tried to boogie board down the Yuba River on Memorial Day weekend.

“He didn't stand a chance and immediately went over,” Nevada County Search and Rescue posted on Facebook. “(The California Highway Patrol) had a visual of him about a quarter of a mile downstream just at dark when he went into the rapids… Once you get caught in the strong currents your chance of survival is almost nil. Please stay out of the water.”

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The man's identity is unknown. Emergency responders don’t believed he survived and said recovery is difficult due to strong whitewater conditions.

Vicki Gonzalez/KCRA 3

Search and Rescue said it will go out to the river again once there is an additional sighting.

“You’re not going to be able to swim out of it. You’re not going to be able to swim across it. If you get caught in it, you’re going downriver,” Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Capt. Kevin Menet said. “There are smaller rocks under that water, and essentially you are going to get beat up like a hammer.”

Menet said the Yuba River is flowing at over 3,000 cubic feet per second. This time last year its flow was around 800 cfs.

“No matter where you are going swimming at, things are definitely different now this year,” he explained. “The water is still really fast, where we haven’t had that in the past couple years. It’s really cold, and it’s not going to change any time soon.”

The 23-year-old jumped into the river at the Highway 49 Bridge at South Yuba River State Park, a popular spot for visitors looking to hike and dip in the water.

“Usually, the water is mellow here. There’s lots of kids hanging out,” visitor Connor Ford said. “(Now) I wouldn’t let my kids get in there. No. I wouldn’t get in the water. It’s crazy. I’m sure if you swam out too far it would just take you away.”

There is no cellphone service at the Hwy. 49 Bridge and the nearest spot to call 911 is about 5 miles away.

If caught in dangerous river conditions, lie on your back with your feet and nose up, Menet said. Remain calm while trying to wade toward an eddy or riverbank.

“Mother Nature is good, beautiful to watch from a distance. Don’t get yourself caught in it,” Menet said. “This river takes lives. It has done in the past, and it’s going to in the future, unfortunately.”